Main > Main Forum
What type of Anti Virus/Spyware...etc is needed?
gonzobrian:
--- Quote from: jcrouse on February 25, 2006, 08:41:44 pm ---Download and install the free version of AVG antivirus.
John
--- End quote ---
Thats what I use on my non critical computers. There is also a lot of other good and free software out there to keep you safe. Just seems like a pity to use your system resources to run them. I guess not connecting the cabinet to the network is the way to go. But moving files across the network is so much easier than moving them dvd/cd at a time. Also having things like VNC to set up a game cab is so useful and much easier than standing at your cab with a keyboard balanced on your cp.
deadkenndys1105:
The computer for my cabnet its going to almost never hook up to the net but im behind a firewall so im good. I know were I get my roms from and I havnt had a problem with them. If you going to run a p2p program on there I might throw something in there.
rugby1:
--- Quote from: gonzobrian on February 25, 2006, 08:32:15 pm ---Yes I have thought about that but it is so much easier to use a wireless nic. No cables. And I have heard that an unpatched xp system can become infected in the time it takes you to download sp2. I'm no network guy but...seems like if I'm behind a firewal I'm OK unless I download or install the offending program? Any network admins out there?
--- End quote ---
Never put an open PC on an internet connection or unsecured LAN. Driveby downloads are really bad.... I recently rebuilt my game machine. After loading windows I plugged into the internet and tried to go straight to Microsofts page to download patches, SP2 etc. I started getting popups and could not get to Microsofts page.... all the popups were directing me to a site where I could download microsoft patches for $39.95. Drive-by download wrote a startup script that locked down all other websites except theirs where I could pay for patches.... Luckily I did have SP2 on a disc so did a selective startup to kill the script and then loaded SP2. Didn't have any problems after that. I didn't download anything, just connected to the internet and it took less than 5 minutes before I had problems. This was a completely reformatted HD and fresh XP install on it so I know that there wasn't a problem prior to hooking up my dsl modem. I was kind of shocked that my system was "compromised" that fast.... I'm not planning on putting my cab online. I can easily update via a 1 gig thumbdrive. not even going to put a cd\dvd rom or floppy in it... thumbdrives are so much easier.
krick:
--- Quote from: rugby1 on February 25, 2006, 11:26:16 pm ---Never put an open PC on an internet connection or unsecured LAN. Driveby downloads are really bad.... I recently rebuilt my game machine. After loading windows I plugged into the internet and tried to go straight to Microsofts page to download patches, SP2 etc. I started getting popups and could not get to Microsofts page.... all the popups were directing me to a site where I could download microsoft patches for $39.95. Drive-by download wrote a startup script that locked down all other websites except theirs where I could pay for patches.... Luckily I did have SP2 on a disc so did a selective startup to kill the script and then loaded SP2. Didn't have any problems after that. I didn't download anything, just connected to the internet and it took less than 5 minutes before I had problems. This was a completely reformatted HD and fresh XP install on it so I know that there wasn't a problem prior to hooking up my dsl modem. I was kind of shocked that my system was "compromised" that fast.... I'm not planning on putting my cab online. I can easily update via a 1 gig thumbdrive. not even going to put a cd\dvd rom or floppy in it... thumbdrives are so much easier.
--- End quote ---
When you "connected to the internet" were you behind a router?
Routers are so cheap, there's no reason to not use one.
A machine on a dialup connection, or plugged directly into a cable/DSL modem will get hammered within minutes of getting online.
A router acts as a kind of hardware firewall that keeps you somewhat safe as long as your computer has all of the windows security updates and you don't browse to the "seedier" parts of the internet like porn or warez sites.
If you need to get online without a router, you had better install Zone Alarm from a CD first so you at least have a software firewall for protection.
The bottom line: computers behind a router are usually safe from major virus/trojan/worm attacks as long as they aren't used to surf the web. My arcade cabinet falls into this category. They can, however be infected by other infected machines on your network so make sure that everybody has up to date anti-virus programs.
On my primary (non-mame) computer, I use the following products...
AVG Anti-virus (free edition)
Zone Alarm (free edition)
The Proxomitron web filter (blocks ads, popups, and harmful content)
+ Proxopatcher (updated interface for Proxomitron)
+ JD5000 Proxomitron filter set (I have "JD_Extra" as my default set)
Spybot S&D (the immunization feature is nice too)
Ad-Aware
HijackThis
SteveJ34:
If you want to use a wireless NIC in order to have the capacity to attach your game cab to the household network, simply disable the nic card in network settings when not in use.
A few mouse clicks can have it enabled again whenever you wish to move files.
Problem solved.